In the last 15 years, I've had the opportunity to listen to literally thousands of Christian albums, most of them meant for "worship" and "ministry" resource applications in local churches. At some point, Christian album art began to change from images of religious icons, scenic vistas and church buildings to pictures of Christian artists, singers and worship leaders. As artist, I look for truth in good art. As a Christian, I look for Christ in inspirational art. Cover art on worship albums made a progression from symbolic pictures of a crown and nails to images of beautiful men and women striking poses in full singing performance. As Christian music and worship music (specifically) became a glimmer of success in a largely shrinking music industry, secular companies (which control or administrate ~70% of the popular Christian "worship" catalog now) marketing prowess imposed itself on the "images" of Christian music and worship music albums. Eventually, we got the point where the worship leader cover is a man or woman not just dressed well and stylish, but stunning. But even more telling is the conversations of decision-makers of these companies where I've heard, first hand, marketing and sales execs clamoring about how "hot" and attractive their new star is, or how they can "leverage" that look.
"What does it matter," you ask? Am I just being a a fuddy-duddy? My answer is simple. The images on albums and the marketing of new Christian "stars" based on their attractiveness is one small sign that reflects an outward expression of a deeper issue- Christians selling their youth and sexual attractiveness as part of the package of their "worship leadership", from marketing albums to leading a congregation on Sunday morning. I have already written about the issue of sexuality and glamour being displayed as part of the Sunday morning "leadership" attributes (see article "Sex Appeal in Worship"), but a recent online post from 80's pop star Sinead O'Connor reminded me of the seriousness of this whole topic. It is not simply what we think about a particular presentation, album or Sunday service, it is the direction of an entire life, the messages that person is sending and the place where it will eventually lead.
In O'Connor's sincere, but vivid, language (and offensive to some) she expounds to Miley Cyrus that the road of her public-sexualizing of her stardom will lead to painful ends, and leaves many victims in its wake. Not the least of those is Cyrus herself, but also the millions of young women around the world who will take Cyrus' example as permission and encouragement to accept exploitation of their own bodies as a way to their own "success". O'Connor is shrill with language, but competent with the truth. You can read the entire "open letter" to Miley Cyrus from Sinead O'Connor here, but be forewarned that it is excessive in its use of a particular four letter expletive:
http://www.sineadoconnor.com/2013/10/open-letter-to-miley-cyrus/
As I read the letter, I realized that we in the "Christian music" world need to heed this kind of stark advice. Artists, worship leaders, recording personalities- those who seek to "lead the church" through your craft- are you prostituting yourself to gain an audience? If we venture into the techniques of sexuality to sell "product" or "downloads", how can our end result be any better than O'Connor predicts for Cyrus? If we can't lead without trying to sell our bodies, perhaps we need to have the harshness of this kind of letter rip as harshly as God's rebuke to Balaam. If you remember the account of this in the book of Numbers, God gives a donkey the ability to speak and rebuke Balaam. Balaam was a man whom had ability to hear supernatural things and to pronounce blessings or cursings on people (in fact, he was only able to do this once God permitted him to). God specifically instructs Balaam to not curse the Israelites, but he disobeys God after warnings because he is offered great rewards. Balaam, even while still hearing the voice of God, seeks after earthly rewards rather than wholehearted allegiance with God. He prostituted his incredible gifts, ruining not only his life, but leaving a legacy of evil that other's have followed.
Three places in the New Testament writers cite Balaam's evil:
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. (2 Peter 2:15)
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 1:11)
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)
It is not surprising that Balaam's sin is wrapped around a character with real gifting. Balaam had real abilities. But his bent toward gaining something for himself not only produced disobedience in him, but made him a teacher of those who would do even more sin. O'Connor may not be a biblical prophet, but she displays enough common sense in her warning to Cyrus that we should heed her warning as well.
Lest you think that I am over-reacting to this, let me say a few things about this in context to our culture. Certainly, I am not talking about being healthy, staying fit, being attractive or dressing nice or stylish. We live in a culture, as civilizations have for thousands of years. We cannot escape it without becoming people who run off in isolation as the monks of 3rd and 4th century did in the Egyptian and North African regions of the Mediterranean (which is a whole other type of excessive response with its own problems). Assuming we aren't all supposed to be monks, we must live and deal with culture. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with dressing well, expressing Christ in our culture and enjoying ourselves or looking good.
But when we strive to express our physical beauty as a way to "sell" ourselves (especially as a form of "spiritual Christian ministry" or leadership), we become no different than the kind of sexualization that O'Connor is warning Cyrus against. Pure and simple, it is self-exploitation, even prostitution. As Christians, there is an entire book explaining the right way to be fully human- the scriptures. And we have a complete example of how that fully human life should be lived- as Christ. But sometimes, just sometimes, God will even use the wisdom of the world to rebuke the church. And I think this is one of those times.
Perhaps O'Connor and Cyrus are as much a warning to the church as they are a reflection to the world.
Sincerely,
Kim Gentes